Last year I was hiking the PCT and a bit of snow and ice spread out over 3 days grounded me in Mount Laguna. So, I grabbed a room across the street at the Mt Laguna Lodge and ate many of my meals at The Outpost. I am going to be completely honest here... I fell in love with this place because of so many reasons, but mainly because it took care of "my people"... yes, the backpackers. The service was so incredible. From the friendly guys in the back on the grill supplying me with ingredient information to the professionalism of the lovely young lady working the register... to the barkeeps to an amazingly talented woman from San Diego who was the musical talent one evening... I seriously don't feel you could assemble a more amazing cast to encounter all in one place. The food... what kind of 5-star review of a restaurant would be complete if you didn't mention the food? Well, it was equally as great ... I found no reason to claim that the selections I purchased were anythjng less than flawless.... yeah, flawless. With a lot of people coming up from Greater San Diego on the weekends, they put out some incredibly amazing BBQ offerings (but only on the weekends). I never wanted to leave and they probably thought I was moving to the mountain beeeeecause mosat backpackers stay overnight ans then they are gone. Not me, lol. I need to say that no proper review of this business would be complete without saying that the husband and wife team running the place were well beyond super cool to me. Oh, and you know you stayed in town a good long time when you leave knowing all about little league teams having games canceled because of the weather and the history of the local structures. Fast forward almost a full year, and now... needless to say that I was pretty bummed out when I did a spur of the moment, 3-hour drive to Mt. Laguna (Saturday, March 7, 2026) for a re-experience, only to find The Outpost closed due to a septic leak. I am sure hoping that they will have this all fixed up soon... especially with the Pacific Crest Trail hiker season having launched on March 1 (it runs through May 31). Since the people that run this place are awesome folks, I would hate as much for them to miss out on their potential income as I would be disappointed for the hikers who may fail to have the chance to have the excellent experience that I had in 2025. Best advice: Call ahead to ensure they're open. My fingers are crossed... Respectfully, I Remain, "Trail Chef" P.C.T. 2025 read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - 3-hour spur-of-the-moment drive resulted in this. - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

My family and I stopped by here during our stay in Mt. Laguna. I must admit that I wasn't expecting much given how remote the area is. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. We ordered the smoked wings, a California burrito, the little Laguna BBQ board , chicken strips and a pizza and everything was delicious. The food was flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The restaurant has inside and outside seating. The service was great. The lady was friendly and patient while we decided what to order. If we're ever in town again, we will definitely stop by The Outpost. read more

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I stopped in this time to experience the lunch menu. The staff and patrons alike were positive, and respectful. Everybody was having a good time in this Cabin in the Woods style BBQ restaurant. I got the Tri Tip Sandwich this time which is the best tri tip that I have had in San Diego County. The pieces are thickly sliced, juicy, tender, and boast a fat smoke ring! The Sandwich comes already dressed with a little sauce, but the meat doesn't need it. The chef, however, put on just enough to complement the dish without masking the flavor of the perfectly cooked tri tip. The Sandwich plates also come with a pickle medley and some aus just, allowing the diner to customize their Sandwich to suit their tastes. I will be coming back again and again to work my way through their menu. If you like real BBQ, you must come to the Outpost! read more

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Okay - I've been a Valley Farm Market patron for 25 years. We lived on Mt. Helix back in the day. They've setup a lovely restaurant and bar on Mount Laguna - the Outpost. Imperial Valley Carne Asada is legendary. Their BBQ is off the charts, pure artesian craft. Now their magic foods have just intersected my favorite camping spot in San Diego County? Did I just win the lottery? You're insane if you don't buy their BBQ platters and Carne Asada Fries. This is as good as it gets, in the magic atmosphere up in the woods, in the classic lodge of the Outpost. Service is timely and friendly. What more can you ask for? This is beyond my expectations. Enjoy!!! read more

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After a wonderful hike, we enjoyed a wonderful meal and drinks at Outpost. Has the cozy feel of a lodge decorated with wagon wheel lights and deer head mounts with deep wood Tons of sitting with booths and a back area by the bar with sofas and a fire place :) We ordered carne asada French fries which were fire. The flavors were incredible. The Baja rice bowl with chicken and the BBQ wings-- yummmm. I tried the Blackberry cider on tap which did not disappoint. I would love to try more flavors! Would definitely come back! read more

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Delicious burgers & fries. Delicious salads! Friendly service & cool vibe. This place has a restaurant on one side and a bar on the other. There's also a cozy fireplace area with comfy sofas & a piano. Plenty of parking and very reasonable prices. Also they are dog friendly so you can bring in your dog. We bought the dog a "doggie patty" which is part if the menu for pets! Highly recommend this place. read more

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Thanksgiving 3 meal crawl started here at The Outpost by Valley Farm on Mt Laguna. The smoked ham was the star meat of the entire crawl. Truly transcends any ham I ever had in my life. Homemade apple pie was also the pie champion today The people! Really welcoming, efficient and so proud of their work The atmosphere is wonderful, big stone fireplace, wood everywhere, feels like a mountain cabin. Great bar! We enjoyed Calidad draft and pumpkin Cider. We can't wait to come back and check out their cabins!! read more

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Finally had the chance to ride our motos out here during the week! About 13 miles up Sunrise Highway from Interstate 8. Who can resist a quick jaunt in the mountains and fresh air? I grabbed the Caesar Salad that was plenty for 2 people. Who doesn't live a salad with plenty of creamy dressing?! This has got to be one of the best Caesar salads that I've had. What sets it apart is the sundried tomatoes. Wish I took a closer picture of one. Homemade. So, they're not totally dried out. They have some juiciness- and we'll seasoned. Since we came for lunch, I ordered the chicken wings with dry rub. I'm typically not a dry rub person- but, I'm so glad I did! It had the meat candy rub- and the wings were very meaty and not puny like some chicken wing chains. read more

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cool place to grab a bite and beer if you're in the Mt. Laguna area. shoutout to the cooks in the back. Dodgers Back to Back champions!!!!

Stopped in for lunch on the weekend to try their BBQ. The smoked turkey was AMAZING. I wish I'd only gotten it LOL The brisket was very tender but didn't seem to have much seasoning or even the smokey taste like the turkey did. Fries were nice and crispy. Saw the side serving of carne asada fries and it's HUGE. Service was friendly. read more

The brisket sandwich was the worst I have ever seen. The meat was mostly fat and gristle. For $17 a sandwich they could at least trim the meat properly. I couldn't believe they sent that out. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

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Spent $20 on a burnt burger. Been before and burger was good but today mine and my buddy's were charcoal. Not sure why this happened wasn't busy but maybe try somewhere else. Sad to leave this poor review but be careful, don't blow $20 on bad food. read more

Well, was referred here for barbecue by Julian cider company. Barbecue was good. Brisket was on point, tri-tip as well. We have no complaints other than the so-called "magic beans" . My wife and I agreed absolutely not our favorite.. Was expecting some type of a barbecue type bean, but we got what seemed like refried beans with green onions and vinegar in them. Not what we're expecting. No, I'm not gonna knock somebody because I don't like their take on beans, but I figured I would post to hear so others are aware. These are not barbecue baked beans like our typical barbecue places. Like I said, the rest of our sampler type platter was very good. Ribs, tri-tip, chicken, turkey and brisket were good. Barbecue sauce is also very good here. read more

Their BBQ plate was very good. I love tri tip and baby back ribs. Normally I am don't care for baby back ribs. But theirs were flavorful and tender. French fries looked so good. I didn't eat any. But my hubby and kids love it. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

First time in Mt laguna. I did find this place through yelp with excellent reviews so wanted to check it out. I was honestly surprised about thr taste of the food. Delicious. The Pizza is light and on point. Fresnch fries is tasty. Atmosphere was nice. Decor is nice and easy parking. We ordered impossible burger and it was amazing. Surprised by this small place. Very cute. For sure will come back read more

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What an amazing find in the far reaches of our home...94 burger was bomb and fries were crispy perfect! Only problem was no regular beers on tap...only IPAs read more

Came here for their bbq weekend menu and it was sooooo good! Service was quick and pleasant and the ambiance was amazing. Onion rings were delicious, their beans were unique and flavorful, and the meat was juicy and tender. Cant wait to come back. read more

A new family favorite! Fantastic, unobtrusive live music on Friday nights (think undiscovered Chris Stapleton), super cozy environment, good food, great drinks at an inviting bar. Lots of cute dogs hanging around, and a warm community. Try the mescal margarita (pictured)! Brad, the bartender, makes a great one. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Mezcal margarita, with fresh squeezed juice and tajin salt. Thank you, Brad! - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

Been wanting to try this place for a bit, and the wait was well worth it. The vibe of this place reminded me of old-fashioned combined with Mountain Cabin look and feel. Being tucked in with the Cleveland National Forest, it adds a surreal forest-coutryside flair to it. Hospitality of the staff and pateons/customers was at-ease, friendly, and respectful. My party sat at the bar where we learned a bit after the person working the bar can food orders as well. The lady working the bar was very polite and attentive. If you rather sit at a table, the kitchen is to the left upon entering where food orders can be placed there. There are two bathrooms located to the side of the bar area. Tried the Old Fashion and Whisky sour and these were mixed like they made at home. Smooth texture with flavor, and not an uncomfortable bitterness with it. Easily the best mixed drinks I've tried in a very long time. As for BBQ that's why I was there. We ordered the brisket burger, tri-tip and pulled pork burgers. Each burger, the BBQed meats, were perfection. No need to include sauce, the meat is already tender with great seasoning. They do include a little bit of sauce but that's all that's needed. If there is a need for more BBQ sauce, ranch for fries, etc. there is a condiment and silverware station on the far wall between the bar and kitchen. We wanted to try the ribs but that'll be another trip to the Outpost later on. The Outpost is a little bit of a drive if you are in the city area of San Diego. But if someone suggests BBQ I wouldn't mind the drive. Also a good trip, spot to visit if people are visiting from out of town. read more

Was told by friend about the smash burger, he raved about it and now I see why! By far the best Hamburger my wife and I have had!!! The spice on the fries was absolutely delicious! Loved the Mountain atmosphere inside! This will definitely be my go-to eating place whenever we go to Mt. Laguna! Great job and kudos to the cooks read more

The food was amazing! Highly recommend the ribs and meat candy wings. The smashburger was also the best one I've ever had! Service was great as well. I will drive an hour each way any time for this! read more

Holy hell, what a unique an amazing place! We loved the bartenders Arianne, Hannah and Nikki! Also our server Ellen was the bomb! Cant recommend more than this amazing experience in the mountains! read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

It's the best smash burger you can have in the mountains. A place to get good food and peaceful away from the city life. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Double patty smash burger!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

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Good food and atmosphere... the salad was huge and amazing. Would go again. Oh...the service was good also

This review is for their Cabins and restaurant. First let's start with the cabin, we had the fisherman's cabin. Very nicely decorated, had a wonderful patio area that was private and secluded. It's an older cabin so it's still pretty rustic, holes in the screens, uneven floors that creak, lightbulbs that were out or not working. All add to the charm however With the price pay per night it would be nice if the mattresses were newer, could feel all the springs as you were sleeping. It had not been cleaned prior to our arrival so there were cobwebs hanging from ceiling and the outdoor fire-pit had no propane for our first night. Thankfully the cabin had a broom so could do quick clean up. I would suggest bringing cleaning products like Lysol wipes as the outside patio furniture definitely needed cleaned, the table especially. Also bring some type of shade as the patio has no umbrellas or shading so in the afternoon sun it can be warm. The cabin was a lot closer to the road than we initially thought so you do hear road noise and patrons from the restaurant. But the location is ideal for those wanting to visit the restaurant as it's a very short walk. We enjoyed dinner with live music on Friday night. We have came here before just for food and always have a nice experience. The live music though topped off this particular dining experience to our favorite. Overall was a really nice time. I am not sure if I would spend that amount again in the future. read more

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What a special place! The staff is fabulous and really goes the extra mile to ensure you are happy. The Ono Nui pizza, ordered to be cooked xtra/well-done, was superb. The Smoke Chicken Wings, both the Meat Candy Dry Rub & Lemon Pepper Dry Rub, were great. The Sat & Sun BBQ - tried the Sampler Platter and added Smoked Turkey was all tasty; not an item I wouldn't have again. Their sides - Fries, Cole Slaw & Beans - were all a huge hit as well. Finally, their Signature VFM Smash Burger were ad wonderfully as everyone said. Full bar with several Beer Taps, and tasty drinks. Again, I will mention how wonderful the staff has been on every visit! Put this place on your 'must go' list and take a quick trip up to Mt Laguna to enjoy a hike and then some wonderful drink, food, and conversation. Live Music Friday evenings, too. read more

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First time here. This place is great. The ambiance is cozy and rustic. The place is somewhat small, giving an intimate feel. There is a full bar and a fire place. The fire place is great. You can have your meal with your family in front of it. As if you are in your living room. The service is nice. This is a great stop on your way from or to the mountain. I recommend eating their first. So your able to burn the food off on you hikes, or playing in the snow. I recommend getting the Platter with all the samples of meats. That way you are able to try a large portion of their menu. But if you are going alone, don't do it. It is a large amount of food. All the meats have a good amount of smoke flavor in them. I like mine with a stronger smoke taste. Still it was good. The Tri Tip was very tender and had a nice smoke ring. The Ribs also were tender and came off the bone with a slight tug. You can tell they used brown sugar as part of the rub. The chicken was juicy and had a good smoke taste. The beans were interesting. Alone they had a robust taste, due to the jalapeños in them. Now don't think they are spicy or hot. They were not. They did taste better when I added Pulled Pork to it. The Pulled Pork was great. Great taste to the meat. They BBQ Sauce was good. It had a slight sweet taste. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu, and have a drink. read more

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This place feels like the life center of the area. Cool place, great food, drinks and sometimes even live music. Service is pretty fast too. Perfect stop after a hike in Laguna. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Tri tip sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

Food was delicious The Pulled Pork Sandwich, Seasoned Fries, Carne Asada Fries, Cole Slaw, lemon pepper wings and chicken tenders! Good selection of beer too. A very cabin woodsy cozy feel to the theme and decorations inside. Would definitely go back for another bite after a fun snow day! read more

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The food was delicious we ordered the carne asade elote style fries with the grilled cheese tomato bisque soup. The fries were big enough for two and worth the value however, the grilled cheese combo was way overpriced. You get half a sandwich and a cup of soup for $8.99. The other half of the sandwich would have made this purchase worth the charge. The cheese wasn't melted and the sandwich came out cold but it was tasty nonetheless. The service was friendly and family oriented. The decorations was patriotic and cool. read more

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Went in and was completely ignored by woman at order desk. Ask if they were serving brisket. Received a very curt answer of no. Don't need attitude for a simple question. read more

Great food great service loved the ambiance ! If you're driving to Julian this is a great stop for some bbq !

Favorite spot in the whole wide world!!!! what a good good restaurant that lets me lounge inside in the air-conditioning especially on hot days! this is the spot! I always order my humans the refreshing pineapple mezcal drinks and the carne asada bowls. the humans always give me a nibble here and I can confirm their carne asada is the absolute best! smoked in house, so tender, so yummy!! service is excellent with treats hand delivered by the absolute best human I have ever met (love her and squeal each time I see her and give her tons of kisses). never a trip to Mount Laguna without a stop here!! HIGHLY recommend! read more

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Place is a joke. Save yr money. Pics are deceiving. Tiny food and pricey. Try it and U wil be back here giving it 1 STAR too. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Tiny Hamburger w nothing on it and tiny pizza too. Waste of money. - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

I come up to Mt laguna often, but even if I didn't, as a BBQ joint this place is worth the trip as a destination all its own. I've had the burger and fries - very good. But on the weekend they have BBQ. That is a whole other animal, and it was good - really good. Way worth it. Half rack of ribs, magic beans, and coleslaw. Came with sweet pickles. All three were great stand-alone items - great together. Next time I'm getting the wings. I wish I had room! There's a bar with games in here too. That will be fun some other time if I'm up here with others. They don't take Amex so that was a bummer but everything about the food and atmosphere was awesome. Very friendly. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Half rack of ribs side of coleslaw and magic beans - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

What a fantastic place. This is hands down one of the best places I have been to in a while where you can get quality services, GREAT food, and what fantastic staff they have--special shout out to two AWESOME staff members, Alex and Brad. Thank you for all the hospitality and YES we will definitely be returning there. If you are looking to get up to the mountains and want quality good food with delicious drinks and staff that make you feel like family this is the place! read more

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You can often tell a good place, with great leadership, and good owners by how the staff treats you. The Outpost by Valley Farm is no exception to this rule. This place is great! From their starters and salads, to the burgers, smoked wings, pizza, and real BBQ (that rivals the best I've ever had, anywhere!) on the weekends! Great cocktails, excellent selection of beer, awesome food, and outstanding service!!! They support local musicians, as well, with live music every Friday and some Saturdays. Can you tell? I'm in love! Thank you, Christine!!! You're the best!!! read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Carne Asada Fries! Sampler Size! Thank you Christine! - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California

This spot is consistently a delightful stop during any bike ride, offering a pleasant ambiance that enhances the experience. It's always a treat to have a drink here, and the place takes on an even more charming atmosphere when it snows. While I haven't personally tried the food, my husband has, though I cannot fully assess it myself. We recently visited the establishment during our wedding anniversary while on a bike ride. Upon arrival, we were greeted by two bartenders. The first bartender served us, and the second appeared to be returning from a break. Unfortunately, our experience was marred by one bartender, who, although friendly, was overly talkative and intrusive. During our visit, she shared an overwhelming amount of personal information, from where she lived and her family dynamics to details about her upcoming vacation and social life. Within just five minutes, I knew more about her than I had anticipated. And instead of letting us enjoy our visit she continued to brag about herself. While her friend arrived shortly after and joined the conversation, which felt typical for a bar setting, the bartender's behavior continued to raise concerns. She began to act suggestively behind the bar, bending in ways we can see down her shirt and not bending at the knees if that means anything. As soon as her friend started speaking to me, the bartender turned her attention to my husband almost immediately. What followed was deeply unsettling: while her friend was keeping me "busy" in conversation, i was ear hustling when I noticed the bartender engaged my husband in a conversation about her sex life and asked for his opinions on the subject. I found this to be not only disrespectful and inappropriate but also made me uncomfortable wondering why she felt entitled to share such intimate details with someone she had just met. On top of that why she felt this to be appropriate conversation with someone's husband. I could no longer tell if I was in a family environment or a strip club. Adding to the discomfort, the bartenders friend was choosing what to eat from the menu, during this time the bartender made inappropriate remarks about hot dogs when my husband had just finished his meal, which included sexual innuendo. Including remarks suggesting to order the hot dog that my husband just fit a giant wiener in his mouth so she should order that too. Although I maintained my composure to avoid escalating the situation, the comments were uncalled for, and we decided to finish our drinks and leave. While I continue to appreciate the establishment's atmosphere, it is clear that the bartender in question needs to better understand personal boundaries and professionalism in a public setting. She stated she was in her 50s and DOR that age you would assume some sort of maturity exists. As I do plan to continue to visit during our Harley rides in the summer through the mountains I hope the next time I visit she is not there. I will say her service left me agitated for the remainder of the day, celebrating our anniversary she definitely left a sour memory. Other than the bartender the establishment is pretty great and I do recommend visiting. read more

Great food, great ambience, great service! Such a lovely treat after spending time up in the mountains!

The other 5-star reviews speak for themselves. Came today around 1:30 pm for lunch...Was moderately busy but had plenty of seating still available. Went up and to order and was greeted by the friendly cashier. There were four of us in our group, so we went with the full rack of ribs, pulled pork sandwich, pretzel bites, and an extra side of fries. (The sandwich came with fries) First off the ribs.....AMAZING. Had great smoke flavor, were super juicy, and practically fall off the bone. The pretzel bites were hot, a little crunchy on the outside, and perfectly chewy on the inside. It was served with a mustard based dipping sauce. (Only recommendation would be to serve with a beer-cheese sauce as well) The fires were hot and seasoned to perfection. I ordered a beer from the bar and went with Mexican Lager from a local brewery. The staff was super nice and attentive and checked on us periodically. I would highly recommend this spot and would definitely go back and try something else from the menu. read more

The Outpost by Valley Farm - Amazing ribs and pulled pork sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Mount Laguna, California